Bobby Valentine recently joked around when asked about the reports last season that there were players drinking beer and eating fried chicken in the Red Sox clubhouse. But when it comes down to it, the new Sox skipper is more than ready to be heavy-handed if need be.

Valentine said that “beer-gate” — as it’s become known as in recent months — would never happen on his watch. He called it “inexcusable,” before apologizing once again for whatever it is that went on.